'Kick the bucket' is considered slang, and how about 'pass away'? When can I use each one? Is there really a difference between them?
2007-02-18 08:38:53 · 6 answers · asked by teacher 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
pass away is a more tactful way of saying it, Kicked teh bucket is slang and would be out of place in most contexts especially if you or your audience knew and/or cared about the person
Your Nana Gracie passed away.
Anna Nicole kicked the bucket.
2007-02-18 10:53:16 · answer #1 · answered by janssen411 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both are slang. One is just more polite.
History says that the word bucket doesn’t refer to our modern bucket at all, but to a sixteenth century word that comes from the French buque, meaning a yoke or similar piece of wood. It is said that the word was applied in particular to the beam from which a pig was hung in order to be slaughtered. Inevitably, the pig would struggle during the process, and would kick the buque.
2007-02-18 16:49:14 · answer #2 · answered by violetb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They both mean the same but you wouldn't say to someone sorry your mum has kicked the bucket. Its not a nice way of putting it.
2007-02-18 16:42:39 · answer #3 · answered by Andrew W 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
pass away is more respectable when talking to an elder
kicked the bucket is when your hanging out with your joker friends
2007-02-18 16:50:42 · answer #4 · answered by juanq a 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Kick the bucket" is crude while "pass away" is a far more gentle way to say someone has died.
2007-02-18 16:48:04 · answer #5 · answered by Preacher 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Pass away" is reverent and non-offensive. "Kick-the-bucket" is flippant, somewhat disrespectful, a cold and detached way to speak of death. "Crossed over" is good. It's current and softens the sense of finality of death, and gives a sense of "see you later" or hope.
2007-02-18 17:08:10 · answer #6 · answered by apples 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋